It was that old house
Do you remember my antique Victorian

She was there
Gliding through the passageway
Fluttering
A white cotton sheet
Swaying in the draught
Greying in the mist of twilight

I opened the door to the den

Vapor scent
Moving past the table
Touching my shirt
My chair
My pen
Leaving just a hint
Of a trail in the dust

I sat down on the hearth

She was purring a song
Tonal
Soft warm and fuzzy
And sad
I didn't hear that at first
But dreadfully sad

I closed my eyes to listen

She wanted to go back
And mend all those tattered garments
Fix all those fragile things
She had broken
She needed to salve the injuries
Inflicted without thinking

She only wanted to go back . . .
But the currents of Time
Kept sweeping her into the Future
Something brushed my lips
Soft as shadows
My eyes snapped open
She was there
Close as any lover

"Lily, let it go . . ."
She pulled back
Frowning
Not wanting to hear what I had to say
"Lily, you know the problem with ghosts?
They just can't let go.
Every thought is one thought.
Every dream is one dream.
Look do you want to stay here forever?
You must get on . . ."

She turned and she was gone

I'll never know . . .
Maybe she went on
Or just went away
I stand looking out this window
Fogging it with my breath
Looking out across the black street
At the yellow moon